Steven has an air fern. He's had it for at least 3 years, and he's quite proud of the fact that it is still green...in other words, that he has been able to keep a plant alive for longer than a few months. I vaguely recall a couple other people in the dorm having air ferns.
Well, last night the subject came up yet again, and I made the final determination to learn what an air fern actually is and is not. A quick Google search turned up the fact that air ferns are actually Sertularia argentea...I would give you the entire scientific classification from Kingdom down to Species, but I know you would just stop reading. Anyway, the telling part comes first.
Kingdom: Animalia
Wait....Animalia?!? This is NOT a PLANT! Ah hah! I am vindicated!
As per Wikipedia: Air fern is the name given to a product that is in fact composed of a species of marine animal called Sertularia argentea. These so-called "ferns" are dead and dried colonies of hydrozoans, colonies of marine hydroids. Hydroids are related to corals and jellyfish.
So don't hold your breath waiting for it to grow!
All-consuming interests
10 hours ago
3 comments:
Just don't soak it in water. It will lose its color. :)
No way! I've had an air fern for years! It hasn't grown or changed- I thought I was doing so well with it! A dead animal?! Who knew!
You write very well.
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